Fort Frog (Buttermilk)

Fort Frog was a childrens' center at Buttermilk. It was a wooden frontier-style fort, with lookout towers, flags, old wagons, a jail, a saloon and a native American teepee village. It was named for Greg Fortin, a longtime pro who ran the Aspenauts program for many years at Buttermilk. His nickname was "Frog." Thanks to Rick Stevens for contributing this information.

It is thought that Fort Frog was built in 1991 or 1992.

According to Alex Kendrick, Buttermilk Children’s Ski School coordinator, "Fort Frog was built by ski-industry icon Jerry “Bergie” Berg, designed by Jerry “Mad Max” Begly, the amazing kids instructor, and named for Greg “Frog” Fortin, an iconic Buttermilk ski instructor and supervisor." See Kendrick's May 24, 2016 letter to the editor of the Aspen Times here: http://www.aspentimes.com/opinion/22157430-113/letter-farewell-to-fort-frog

An Aspen Times article of June 10, 2016 notes that charges were brought in connection with the Fort Frog fire. "Skico employee charged with arson" by Jason Auslander. Click here to read the article: http://www.aspentimes.com/news/22401420-113/skico-employee-charged-with-arson A quote from this article: "Kurt Pedersen of Carbondale was charged with fourth-degree arson, meaning he was reckless with fire, said Pitkin County sheriff’s investigator Bruce Benjamin. Pedersen is the same man who received a citation from the U.S. Forest Service for failing to extinguish a fire, he said."

A June 10, 2016 Aspen Daily News article by Curtis Wackerle, "Fort Frog fire starter charged with negligence" contains this about the possible rebuilding of Fort Frog: "As for rebuilding the popular mountain feature, 'we definitely will … but it won't be able to happen this summer,' [Jeff] Hanle wrote." Here is the link to this article: http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/171382

Many thanks to Anna Lookabill Scott for contributing a copy of an Aspen Times article of December 22, 1998, "Fort Frog to be Rededicated" (see photo below). This article states that Greg Fortin "began working at Aspen's ski school in 1968. He was one of 15 chosen from 150 applications to the school."

Greg Fortin died on December 14, 1998 (thanks to Anna Lookabill Scott for this information).

This sign has been erected at the place where Fort Frog used to be; these three photos were taken in March 2017.

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Sanctuaries in the Snow
The Shrines of Aspen/Snowmass
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